About Venkatesh Yethiraj

Achondroplasia is one of the oldest known birth defects. The frequency of achondroplasia is estimated to range from about 1 in 10,000 births in Latin America to about 12 in 77,000 in Denmark. An average figure worldwide is approximately 1 in 25,000 births.It results in abnormally short stature and is the most common cause of short stature with disproportionately short limbs.There is disorder of bone growth. Venkatesh has been a sports person since 1994 and has taken part in various national and international sport events.He plays badminton, cricket, volley ball, athletics, discus throw etc.He has won us many medals in various sports.He has been honored by the Karnataka Government with the following awards:

Ekalavya Award – for the outstanding performance in the field of sports for the year 2005.

Kannada Rajosthava Award – for the outstanding performance in the field of sports for the year 2004.

Venkatesh says, “I stand only three feet and nine inches tall, but deeds and achievements on the sporting arena have made me tower over many of my contemporaries. I have bagged more than 19 international and 35 national medals in arena of paraplegic sports”.

Quick Fire!Favorite movie(s) Old Hindi Movies

Favorite books Pappion

Favorite color Blue

Craziest thing that you have ever done in your life During the deepvali festival in my child hood I had lighted sparklers and left .All of a sudden the fire broke out in my room, my parents put off the fire with putting water.

Most Valuable thing that you have purchased till now Mobile Phone

If you are marooned on an island what 5 things you would like to keep with you? First thing I will do is try to get near shore, the second thing I pray to the god everything happened was for good.

Favorite food North Indian Dishes

Your biggest strength Motivation

If you take birth again, who would you like to be born as? Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

The thing(s) that you hate Selfishness and ego

The first thing you do right after awaking up in the morning I pray to the god that the day should be full of smiles and good news.

The last thing you before falling asleep in the night I thank the god for all the things that happened on the day

You prefer sons or daughters Both a son and a daughter

If world is going to be destroyed in next 5 minutes. What would you do during this time? I would pray to the god.

What was your resolution on the new year? Let the new year bring happiness, joy and peace through out the year.

The best gift that somebody can offer to you? Smile

Your bedroom take fire what would you rescue at first? I will protect my merit certificates that I had won.

The town/country that you want to visit Canada & New Zealand

If you can meet one person of your choice, dead or alive, known or not, who would this be? Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

If you could change one thing your past, what would it be? Ego and hatred.

Did you find any problems while you were doing your studies. I mean did lack of infrastructure in the Indian scenario pose any kind of problems for you?

I didn’t face any problem during studies.

How do you manage your day to day activities a brief description i.e. with somebody’s help or you are able to cope up with routine activities yourself?

I get up early in the morning do some exercises, feed the birds, my routine work is done by myself without any help from anybody in my family or friends.

What would you like to change in your life if you got one chance to change?

Do you feel India is a disabled friendly country? What all needs to be done?

India is not a disabled friendly, many public and private transports don’t have wheel chair accessibility. Compare to other parts of the world India is not bothered to develop accessibility for the physically challenged persons.

Have you ever felt any kind of emotional outbursts or complexes due to your physical status? If yes then how could you manage it?

When I go to attend interviews for my job, when the interviewer sees me I feel embarrassed and feel bad about my disability.

What are your hobbies or leisure time activities?

Browse internet, read news papers, magazines.

How do you react when somebody pities you?

I feel very frustrated and tell them that we don’t need sympathy but we only need opportunities.